MAJMU is likely to be taken along the ‘Daily News-Durban July route’ following her stunning win in Saturday’s Gr1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein.

Mike de Kock said on Sunday: “We’ll be discussing Majmu’s future with Sheikh Hamdan and Angus Gold, we’ll be looking at export flight schedules, but at this stage the Durban July via the Daily News is the most likely option we’ll exercise with her.”

Majmu, a riveting return to the racetrack. (JC Photos).

Majmu slammed her rivals by three lengths in a time of 97.50s, posting her second successive Gr1 victory and Mike commented: “She was beautifully prepared under pressure by Mathew and the team at Randjesfontein and I’m very proud today. Mat has done a sterling job. He’s had to take the flak and the bullets in my absence, but he has broad shoulders. Well done to all involved.”

Majmu raced handy and jockey Anthony Delpech was poised to make his move at the 400m mark when momentarily his mount appeared to feel some heat from the runners around her. But coming into the last 300m she kicked into gear to put the result beyond doubt in a matter of strides.

“Majmu wasn’t feeling pressure, I told Anthony to sit on her, not to pull the trigger too fast,” Mike commented about her finishing effort.

The filly’s legion of supporters will be hoping to see much of the same if she were to line up in the two topline events during the KZN Champion season, the respective distances of which are likely to suit her and Mike added: “Majmu’s done everything we’ve asked of her and she’s top class but she has more to prove, more to conquer. I have read some reports in the media about her being the best filly I’ve trained but I can’t recall putting that on record.  Majmu may well turn out to be the best, but right now Ipi Tombe remains at the top of my list by virtue of what she’d achieved.”

Shaama, Nursery prospect. 

It was a great ‘day at the office’ for the De Kock stable, Sheikh Hamdan and Delpech, who opened the meeting with an impressive 1160m win by debutante Shaama (AUS), like Majmu a daughter of Redoute’s Choice. Anjaal bounced back to winning ways in Race 5 over 1400m, storming home four lengths clear.

Mathew said about Shaama: “She’s a smart filly and she reproduced what she’d showed us at home. We’ll consider our options, there is the Fillies and Colts Nursery coming up on Champions Day and a race in Durban that suits her.”

Anjaal had placed in a number of Graded races and has always been considered one of the best of  his generation. That he’s only won at Graduation level to date is a result of his coltishness and lack of confidence, not a lack a ability and by the purposeful way he strode to the start this time it is probably safe to predict that he’s turned the corner once and for all.

Anjaal, much more like it!

Mike said: “We changed Anjaal’s training programme and brought him back in trip. This was a super win, he had some quality runners behind him and hopefully he can go on from here. We’ll probably aim him at the KZN Guineas. He’s run well at Greyville and the Guineas could be the right target.”

The trio of Sheikh Hamdan-owned winners were all bought from the Inglis Easter Sale in Sydney and Mike reported: “I’ve just returned from Australia and we bought some super yearlings at the same sale, nine for Sheikh Hamdan and one on spec. Inglis Easter has brought us some spectacular results and I must thank Angus Gold and Jehan Malherbe for their ongoing help and expertise. We’re winning big races with wonderful horses, but to have ongoing success we have to pick them right as yearlings.”